Chapter 404: Beauty and Self-awareness

Chunzhi was amused by Huo Zheng's eagerness to win favor. She kissed him on the lips, then raised her hand to lower the bed curtain to block out the light from outside so that he could have a good sleep.

Huo Zheng really liked the way Chunzhi looked at him so gently and dotingly, as if he was also someone who needed to be coaxed with care.

He discussed important matters with Gu Yuanjia all night, feeling somewhat lonely and sleepless, but more importantly, there were indeed many things in Xizhou that needed their urgent attention.

With such a considerate wife treating him tenderly at home, any fatigue he felt would instantly disappear. Even when he lay on the bed with his eyes closed to rest, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

You will only be happy if you spend your days with the people you love.

Chunzhi tucked in the corners of the quilt for Huo Zheng, then stood up and gently lowered the bed curtains so that he could sleep peacefully. Then she went to wash and change clothes, and went to the courtyard where Huo Yanran was.

Yuzhu came back earlier than her and was already arranging the maids to do things. Everyone moved very quietly so as not to disturb the princess who was sleeping soundly in the house.

Chunzhi ordered the maids to prepare Yanran's favorite food, and added a few Xizhou's unique delicacies, and then asked them to go to the kitchen quickly.

Chunzhi was sitting in the yard looking at the palace's account books, while Yuzhu was arranging flowers beside her.

Not long after, Huo Yanran woke up naturally and walked to the window to watch the maids busying around.

The royal courtyard is shaded by trees, and the people, flowers, plants and trees together form a flower-like window view.

"Sister-in-law." Huo Yanran called Chunzhi, "When did you get up?"

"Just got up recently."

Seeing that Huo Yanran had woken up, Chunzhi took Yuzhu and the maid into the house.

The maids helped the princess wash and dress, and Yuzhu brought several new clothes prepared for the princess for Huo Yanran to choose from.

"Why did you prepare so much?"

Huo Yanran was a little surprised.

She did not inform her seventh brother and sister-in-law in advance about coming to Xizhou. One reason was that she wanted to give them a surprise, and the other was to avoid causing too much trouble in Xizhou.

Huo Yanran had just arrived in Xizhou last night, and her clothes were hastily prepared. One or two sets would have been enough, but the maids brought quite a few for her to choose from.

"These are just a few of them, there are many more." Yuzhu said, "Sister has always wanted to go to Beili to bring the princess back. She has already prepared a courtyard for the princess in the mansion and has prepared all the clothes for the four seasons..."

Not only that, Chunzhi would even buy anything she saw while shopping outside that she thought Yanran would like, bring it back to the palace, and put it in this yard.

She didn't know when she could go to Beili to pick up Yanran, but the sooner the better. She couldn't be left without anything when Yanran came back.

Although Yanran has never been to Xizhou, wherever she and Huo Zheng are is Yanran's home. Since it is a home, naturally everything must be prepared.

“Sister-in-law…”

Huo Yanran knew that her sister-in-law treated her well, but she didn't expect her to be so good.

She took Chunzhi's hand and said, "The clothes my sister-in-law prepared for me are naturally beautiful. Please pick one for me."

"Then wear that blue and white silk shirt and rouge skirt."

Chunzhi asked the maid on her left to bring the dress forward and show it to Huo Yanran.

"Then wear this."

Huo Yanran turned and walked behind the screen, and the maid followed her to help her change clothes.

A moment later, Huo Yanran, wearing new clothes, walked out from behind the screen. She wore a blue and white silk shirt with layers of layers and flowing sleeves. Her rouge silk skirt was tied with a red ribbon at the waist. As she walked, her waist was as graceful as ever.

Even before she put her hair into a bun, she was already as beautiful as a fairy.

The maids couldn't help but praise her, "The princess is so beautiful."

"Of course." Huo Yanran smiled and said, "I've always been beautiful and I know it."

Chunzhi, Yuzhu and others couldn't help laughing when they heard this.

Yanran has been in Beili for three years, and her personality has become more straightforward and likable.

Chunzhi pulled Yanran to sit in front of the bronze mirror and combed her hair herself. Yuzhu helped her choose a red hairpin and jade ring, and they talked slowly.

The maids also applied the most fashionable makeup on the princess, dotting a hibiscus flower on her forehead, making Huo Yanran's face look like a hibiscus and even more beautiful.

After helping Huo Yanran wash and dress, Chunzhi and Yuzhu had breakfast with her.

Xiaoxinghui and Nian'er also came over to pay their respects to their aunt.

The princess was in a good mood and had a great appetite. She ate a little of everything on the large breakfast table. After breakfast, she took Xiaoxing back to see the gifts she had brought with Nian'er and the others.

She brought two ponies for the two little ones.

It is the offspring of a famous horse. It has not grown up yet, but it is extremely smart and is perfect for the two little ones to learn riding skills.

Huo Yanran also made bows and arrows and some toys for them herself.

Xiaoxinghui and Nian'er couldn't let go of them after they got them.

Huo Yanran was still in the backyard of the palace, teaching the two children archery.

The little princess who was weak and powerless before now draws her bow like a full moon, and every arrow hits the bull's eye.

Everyone present couldn't help but applaud and cheer for her.

Xiaoxing replied that everything was fine. He had already started practicing martial arts and sword skills with his father and the generals, and had even touched a bow and arrow. Nian'er looked at her aunt with eyes full of admiration.

Huo Yanran played with the two little ones for quite a while before letting them practice on their own. She divided the things she brought from Beili among Chunzhi and Yuzhu, and also divided out Song Wan'er's portion, and sent someone to deliver them to the capital.

Huo Yanran told them that Beili was not as poor as Daxing thought. After the two countries opened up trade, turquoise, agate and other items appeared in large quantities in the mutual market and had become jewelry sought after by many ladies.

Items like Cordyceps sinensis and Tianshan Snow Lotus are even more expensive.

It is said that the people of Beili are tough and like to fight, but this is not true.

Most of the people are simple and honest, but there are good people and bad people everywhere. This is true for people in Daxing and Beili.

Chunzhi discovered that the little princess's horizons and state of mind were much broader than before. She felt sorry for Yanran who was far away in a foreign country, undergoing hardships and growing up, and was also amazed that the phoenix would eventually soar above the sky.

Huo Yanran came to Xizhou to visit her seventh brother and sister-in-law to relieve her homesickness.

Secondly, I wanted to see with my own eyes what the mutual market in Xizhou looked like.

Chunzhi and Yuzhu dressed up in ordinary clothes and took Huo Yanran to the Hu Market to watch the transactions between merchants. The territory of the Hu Market was getting bigger and bigger. The people who did business here for a long time included not only people from Daxing and Beili, but also many foreigners from small border countries.

Huo Yanran wandered around, sometimes talking to Daxing merchants in Chinese, sometimes asking prices with Beili merchants in Beili dialect. She ran left and right, very busy and full of joy.

After she arrived in Beili, she could only listen with Tuoba Ying to the Beili ministers who came back from Xizhou talking about how bustling the mutual market was and how it was growing stronger.

When I heard it at that time, I thought that Brother Seven and his wife were really amazing.

But it was only when Huo Yanran came here in person that she truly felt how shocking it all was.

How many people have come across mountains and rivers to gather here.

How many goods are sold here?

This is a great feat that will benefit all people and last for generations to come.

Huo Yanran, Chunzhi and Yuzhu went shopping in the market for several days and bought a lot of things. The princess felt sorry that Song Wan'er could not come to Xizhou to reunite with them, so she sent someone to bring Song Wan'er a lot of gifts.

When Song Wan'er received these gifts, she also learned that the princess was currently in Xizhou.

This time, she did not cry when she received the gift sent by the princess.

Instead, he took the initiative to go to the front yard and sit waiting for Jiang Hao.

As the sun set in the west, when Jiang Hao returned home, he saw Song Wan'er sitting at the stone table in front of the courtyard. He was wondering what song Song Wan'er was singing today when he heard her say, "Stand there."

Jiang Hao stopped and waited for Song Wan'er's next words.

Song Wan'er cleared her throat and said, "I want to discuss something with you."